Founders Pale Ale

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Hazy golden coloured body with a bit of an unfiltered characteristic and a very large slightly off-white coloured head. Very nice looking, for sure! Aroma of fresh lemons, limes, hops (of course), flowers and a dose of malt that packs nicely. Medium-bodied; Strong potent hoppiness up front with a good citrus taste and a prolonged floral aftertaste coupled with the hop twang. Aftertaste shows some malt and more of the hops - very nice throughout. Overall, a very good APA - definitely a consistent beer that shows well for the style. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Merchant’s in Dearborn, Michigan on 29-September-2007.

Bottle. Aroma all hops, yum yum pine. Pours a nice lively golden with a foamy head that settles nicely to a thin white cap nicely lacing. Flavor, mmm mmmm nicely layered hops first floral, then citrus light malt at the end. Palate smooth filling and crisp. This is quite tasty.

12oz bottle-A golden body with a huge off white head and an aroma of hops and pine. Taste of hops, citrus, slight allcohol and malt. Nice balanced Pale Ale.

Founders dry hopped pale ale. Big foamy head even with a gentle pour. There is gunk on the bottom of the bottle, just like a good unfiltered wheat. Smells very hoppy, is very hoppy. The aroma is perfumy flowering hops with some hints of volatile turpentine. Color is foggy light iced tea. Cool swirling hypnotizing pour with precipitants in there! Lots and lots of carbonation, I find this very enjoyable in a well hopped beer. Almost is like an IPA in its personality. It’s not quite like chewing on grapefruit rinds but certainly a high degree of bitter hops for an APA. I just love that bubbly feel on the palate! Every APA should have such carbonation, it makes the bitter bite almost enjoyable. Finish is medium high medicinal lingering hop bitterness.

Bottled. Poured a clear peachy-golden with a rocky beige head and some chunky sediment floating around. Aroma was of sweet floral and citrus hoppage on top of toffee and pils-type malts beneath.. sweet overall and even smelled refreshing! Flavor had citrus zest and sweet pils/bready malts on a very pleasant first impression.. floral and citrus bitterness surround the sweet pils and toffee base.. tasty and well-balanced. Medium-bodied on the palate with a somewhat creamy middle and moderate, well-placed bitterness all over. Nice one!

Bottle. Translucent yellow orange pour with a decent amount of sediment...bone white head. Aroma of grass and floral hops, light pale malt, perhaps a bit of light lemon zest. Flavors of light toasted malt, citrus rind, floral/grassy hops. Medium/light body...sharp carbonation...toasty and floral in the front with a bitter toasty finish.

Date: 04/28/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

hazy yellow, solid fine white head, light sweet malt aroma with a hint of floral hops, nice hop flavor on a medium malt base, hint of toasted malt, good bitter finish,
-------- /> Date: 05/08/2006
Words: Bottle
Words: Brewery

clear amber, whispy off white head, touch of lace, sweet carmel malt aroma with light floral hops, nice bitter hop flavor, enough malt to bring some balance, good carmel malt flavor with only a touch of sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Ok I admit it. I have been on a diet for 6 weeks and have not had a beer in that entire time. As such this rating might be too high as this things taste like necter of the gods :). ARoma is nice, floral hop aroma. Taste is well balanced, good malt backbone. slightly sweeter than I had thought but nice. Palate is excellent for a pale ale and overall a very good effort. Taste bigger than its 6,2 alcohol rating as well.